Our Vision:

To make Christ's love known in the world today and to live out his teaching:

Our Mission:

To encourage awareness of the presence of God through worship, music and art;
To encourage everyone in the Christian faith through example, learning and spiritual growth;
To make our churches open and welcoming to all, and supportive of those in need;
To challenge injustice at home and abroad, and balance our care for the environment.

Collect

Eternal Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord and King: keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000

Epistle - Revelation 1:4b-8

⁴ Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
⁶ and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
⁷ Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.
⁸ "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Gospel - John 18:33-37

³³ Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
³⁴ "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"
³⁵ "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"
³⁶ Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
³⁷ "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

Post Communion Prayer

Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by you be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayers

On this last Sunday of our Church's year, we give thanks for God's love to us throughout the past year. We pray for:

Christians and this coming season of Advent, that we may spend it in preparation for the coming of our Saviour, and the building of his kingdom on earth
the Dioceses of Edmundsbury & Ipswich, and Aberdeen & Orkney
Bishop Peter Amidi and his Diocese of Lainya, Sudan
peace in the world and an end to fighting and suffering
our troops in Afghanistan, and their families and loved ones at home
the elderly and frail, as the cold winter weather descends upon us
the sick: Nancy Scott, Peggy Sharman and Dick White
the departed: John Bowditch and Bert Presslee.

ADVENT COURSE

The Monday Advent study course, "Faith, Hope and Love", started on 9th November.
The course uses the popular York Course format, and takes place at Starmoor, Throop, the home of Mike and Hillie Menzies. It continues every Monday until 14th December, starting at 7:45 for 8:00 pm and finishing at 9:30. See November's Parish News for further details.
The charge for the course is £3.00 each for the notes. All are welcome, from both parishes, even if you cannot come to all the sessions.